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Music: what are the choices?

The internet has grew so much recently, so too has misuse of the web. More and more people are downloading music without paying for it. Sometimes some of these people get caught by their native police force, others can avoid it by making use of jurisdiction and technology (such as, VPNs, for example). But it it difficult to get legal music on the internet?

Streaming services

Spotify, for example, allows users to log on to an account and choose their own songs to listen to. Although streaming is a form of downloading, it does not stay on the hard drive of your computer [1]. This means that your computer (at home) tells a website you want a song, it fetches it (maybe sends an advert with it) from the companies server and they allow you to play it through your computer. Companies like Spotify make a lot of money from adverts because they have a high level of hits (the number of people who check out their site).

There are so many other examples, so much so, I do not want to try to name them here because I probably only know an eighth of them — if that. It also varies from country to country, which is good for us — a variety is always good. But it is worth highlighting, at this point, that streaming is easy to do. This is legal because you are not depriving an artist of their earnings. However, this option is a little time consuming (i.e. you have to go to a website, log on, and type what song you want) but maybe it will get easier?

Cheap music

I am not that old but I have noticed that music has become cheaper to purchase — legally. This is a good thing, of course. Years ago I couldn’t have imagined to buy one song off an artist I didn’t particularly like. What do I mean? Well, digital music has allowed a greater access to the various parts of artists. For example, users can buy an individual track rather than buying a whole album. For example, Apple’s iTunes allows users to do it, almost effortlessly.

Digital music has become fragmented. This is a good thing!

The ethical questions

This isn’t a solution, but it could help the world to make one. And I am convinced that the world will make a global decision in my lifetime. Imagine if we all started to use technology a little better, streaming songs rather than illegally downloading them. Would this be fairer to the artist(s)? Would this make the governments in our home nations to make technology more accessible if we start to use it correctly? Would they think about giving power to the people rather than taking it away by enforcing strict laws in every country about what can and can’t be done?

If the song is really good, why not buy it? Turn that great feeling into a great act — pay for more great songs to be released.

You and I can help this. Next time you want to listen to a song, use one of these free services. They are free and fairly easy. This small change can help, especially with ethical issues.

Have you ever used a really good product and a few months later you see other people using it? Have you ever found it difficult to find a product in a store, and after a year, or so, it is sold in most stores? This is technology evolution.

Maps: the latest evolution

Google became the most dominant developer for maps. Their search facilities are now available in multiple formats (webpages, images, maps…).

Not so long ago Apple released their version of maps. Unfortunately, the content was not that well ironed out. Many users reported problems of missing streets and buildings, for example. It would be fair to say that their official launch was like a prototype — real users needed to use if, for real, then report problems with it. But why didn’t Apple release this product to a selective bunch of users to alert them of these problems before it affected millions and millions of people? Sometimes businesses don’t step back and look at the whole system. A mix of reductionism and holism, two types of information system design techniques to obtain successful projects, could have been applied here.

What way does technology move?

In short, one company moves first. If they are well run they will lead for a while (have patents to protect their innovation etc) then other companies follow with their version of that product. Technology moves in the same direction. Is this why products look similar?

A few weeks ago, I said, in a post, that the new (sixth generation) iPhone will be released before Christmas 2012. My whispers are getting a little louder, and they say that the launch will be on Wed 12th September 2012.

What are the sources saying?

thinner, larger screen and a smaller dock connector.

Details of what the new Apple iPhone look like, or what additional features it has, are limited – even on the open web. But pictures are filtering through, and it looks like Apple are trying to retain their market share, because Android seem to be getting more and more of Apple’s market share!

Technology viewpoint

You might have heard of web 2.0 — have you? If so, you will know that web 2.0 means that users have a say and produce content for the web. For example, having your own blog is a web 2.0 element, whereas just reading a website was a web 1.0 element.

So if users create content, interact with others and take part in other user-centred content, what is next for the web? Web 3.0 — the ability to pay for services with our own technology. I think that the new iPhone will allow the internet to be used as a true communication method. Our mobile (cellular) phone will be linked to our very own bank account to pay for goods / services. This is the future of the internet. An internet which allows us to connect, more than we ever have, to complete transaction(s) on the web.

I am pro Android, not because they are open source, but because their mobile’s are faster! But if you are an iPhone / Apple fan you might be interested to know that reliable whispers are stating that the new iPhone 5 will be released before Christmas 2012 – probably October 2012. If I hear a new reliable whisper, I’ll let you know.

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What does 2012 have in store?

Apple in March 2012 are going to announce a new ultra slim (15″) MacBook. Is technology simply going to get lighter and thinner? Perhaps this will mean that technology will make use of what we already have i.e. using a wall as a monitor, or making a webcam more than a Skype piece of equipment – could it detect eye movements? Could it know what part of the screen we are looking at? Will this solve the double click generation?